Wu鈥檚 trailblazing work with liquid crystal displays has led to leading-edge technologies in smart phones, tablets, augmented reality, virtual reality and other devices used around the globe. He is also widely recognized for mentoring his students. Several have gone on to excel at top companies like Apple, Google and Meta.

Wu will be recognized for this honor during 麻豆原创’s 2025 Founders’ Day, which takes place Wednesday, April 2, in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union.

“Dr. Wu’s world-class expertise, impact, and dedication to student success make this honor well-deserved,” says Michael D. Johnson, 麻豆原创’s provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “麻豆原创 鈥� and now academics in the Big 12 Athletic Conference 鈥� are distinguished by his pioneering work, scholarly excellence and positive influence.”

The award adds to the major honors Wu has earned since joining 麻豆原创 in 2001. He鈥檚 a 麻豆原创 trustee chair and also a Pegasus Professor, the highest honor a faculty member can earn at 麻豆原创.

Last year, Wu鈥檚 remarkable body of work led to him becoming 麻豆原创鈥檚 inaugural Medal of Societal Impact awardee. The honor recognizes faculty whose research in engineering, medicine, or science has significantly benefited society.

Big 12 institutions nominated their faculty of the year candidates in conjunction with faculty athletics representatives, provosts and other university leaders.

The new awards showcase the academic excellence, robust research breakthroughs and educational opportunities available to students at Big 12 institutions, says Big 12 Conference Chief Impact Officer Jenn Hunter.

“Academic success is at the core of the mission of the Big 12, and that success is only possible with the help of excellent educators dedicated to advancing education and innovation at our institutions,” Hunter says.

麻豆原创 joined the Big 12 last year as the youngest school among the nation鈥檚 major athletic conferences. In the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, 麻豆原创 ties for third among public institutions and sixth overall among Big 12 member schools.

鈥淥ur top rankings underscore our dedication to research excellence and innovation.鈥� 鈥� Winston Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation

Recently, U.S. News & World Report ranked 麻豆原创 among its 2024-25 Best Global Universities 鈥� highlighting 麻豆原创鈥檚 excellence in education across many areas. Among these rankings, 麻豆原创 received quite a few for highly cited publications.

鈥淲e pride ourselves on the impactful research of our faculty, staff and students,鈥� says Winston Schoenfeld, 麻豆原创鈥檚 vice president for research and innovation. 鈥淥ur top rankings underscore our dedication to research excellence and innovation, and I am delighted to see a number of our 麻豆原创 researchers recognized among the most cited in their fields.鈥�

From optics and photonics to health and education, the fingerprints of 麻豆原创鈥檚 highly cited researchers leave marks on advancements in their fields.

Harnessing Light: Applications of Optics and Photonics

麻豆原创 is a global leader in optics and photonics, ranking No. 29 in the world, according to U.S. News & World Report. 麻豆原创 also ranks among the top 10 in the nation for the field 鈥� as well as No. 5 for total optics publications, optics citations and the number of optics publications among the 10% most cited.

These citations are a reflection of advancements in technologies used daily, such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and glass.

Several faculty in 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Optics and Photonics are highly-cited researchers in their field. One of whom is Pegasus Professor Shin-Tson Wu, whose work has been cited more than 52,000 times, according to Google Scholar (the source used for all following citation counts). Wu鈥檚 pioneering research has led to cutting-edge display technologies, including smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs, and, more recently, augmented reality and virtual reality 鈥� making them more energy-efficient, vibrant and versatile. This year, Wu received 麻豆原创鈥檚 inaugural Medal of Societal Impact for his contributions to the field.

鈥淢y main priority is not myself,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淚 am delighted to see my research making impact to the society. A rich life to me is not just about money. It鈥檚 helping others have better lives.鈥�

鈥淚 am delighted to see my research making impact to the society. A rich life to me is not just about money. It鈥檚 helping others have better lives.鈥� 鈥� Shin-Tson Wu, Pegasus Professor

Kathleen Richardson, whose expertise is in high tech glass design and fabrication has earned her over 17,800 citations, established and directs 麻豆原创鈥檚 Glass Processing and Characterization Laboratory. At the lab, she and a team of students design and process novel glass and glass ceramic materials for varying applications. The unique optical properties embedded in the materials have a vast field of applications from thermal imaging instrumentation on a Mars rover to optical phase change materials that change their physical state once triggered by an outside source such as light, which may be useful for detecting toxic leaks.

鈥淢ost people don鈥檛 realize the role glass plays in our lives,鈥� Richardson said in a 2022 article about her involvement with the United Nation鈥檚 Year of Glass. 鈥淔rom Egyptian glass art to infrared security cameras made possible because of glass with special properties, glass has changed our lives. And only now is glass really being recognized for its versatile and renewable possibilities as a sustainable option for challenging problems.鈥�

Fueling Optimal Performance: Nutrition and Exercise Science

Human health and quality of life is another area 麻豆原创 faculty help improve through their curriculum, research and published work.

麻豆原创 ranks No. 92 for Public, Environmental and Occupational Health 鈥� placing the university in the top 18% of institutions worldwide, according to the U.S. News & World Report. This year鈥檚 ranking is also a 72-spot advancement from the previous ranking.

Researchers, including those in the College of Health and Human Performance (CHPS), at 麻豆原创 are No. 1 in the nation for the percentage of total publications that are among the 10% most cited in public, environmental and occupational health, and No. 5 in the world.

Jeff Stout, the founding Director of 麻豆原创鈥檚 School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences, is one of the world鈥檚 leading researchers on of creatine and other dietary supplements and nutritional interventions for performance enhancement 鈥� with nearly 27,000 career citations. The Pegasus Professor has researched ways to use nutrition and exercise to improve health for older adults experiencing muscle loss and reduced mobility. His work has also focused on sarcopenia, a condition characterized by loss of muscle mass and function that typically begins after 30.

鈥淭he goal of my research is to figure out what is the most optimal way, from both nutritional and exercise perspectives, to slow down the loss of strength and muscle as we age.” 鈥� Jeff Stout, Pegasus Professor

鈥淭he goal of my research is to figure out what is the most optimal way, from both nutritional and exercise perspectives, to slow down the loss of strength and muscle as we age. This is crucial because the quality of our life in later years is directly affected by these factors,鈥� says Stout. 鈥淵ou want to maintain as much muscle, strength and functionality as possible. Skeletal muscle is very important to overall health. It鈥檚 a reservoir of nutrients that our body needs when under stress.鈥�

Some of the most significant findings Stout has discovered include that a combination of resistance training and consuming protein daily promotes muscle growth. Additionally, research shows that consuming 1.4 grams to 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight helps adults who exercise regularly maintain sufficient muscle mass.

Excellence in research also extends to staff and leadership at 麻豆原创.

With over 21 years of faculty experience at various R1 institutions, Joel Cramer joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 CHPS in 2022 as senior associate dean for academic and faculty affairs.

His research spans human skeletal muscle health and metabolism across the lifespan. His more recent work aims to identify slower-digesting carbohydrates that don鈥檛 spike blood sugar, or insulin levels, which can aid in understanding of diabetes and related diseases. Much of his research, which has been cited more than 15,000 times, has also been sponsored by the USDA and nutritional supplement companies.

鈥淎 lot of food products and dietary supplements that are on the market are not particularly well-regulated and anything that we can do to improve the science of understanding of those products is good, so the impact is great for the consumer,鈥� he says.

Cramer鈥檚 research impacts extend across the campus community, as he has a passion for supporting young researchers. On Aug. 8, he鈥檒l be broadening that reach across research and faculty support when he becomes 麻豆原创鈥檚 interim vice provost for faculty excellence.

鈥淚t takes a lot of hard work at the beginning [of researchers鈥� careers] to be, first, published and then cited,鈥� Cramer says. 鈥淯nderstanding and navigating those waters is probably the No. 1 thing I can contribute the most here in the world of university metrics for scholarship.鈥�

Enhancing Education: Improving Student and Teacher Outcomes

For the first time, U.S. News & World Report ranks 麻豆原创 in the category of Education and Education Research 鈥� placing the university at No. 94 in the world. 麻豆原创 also ranks in the top 40 in the nation.麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Community Innovation and Education faculty have earned the university the No. 2 in the nation and No. 4 in the world rankings for the percentage of highly cited papers that are among the top 1% in education and educational research. Learning sciences is a field that aims to advance learning for all, from English to engineering, and research in this area has an exponential impact. For over 10 years, Assistant Professor Michelle Taub has studied positive and negative influences on learning, which has led her to become one of the most highly cited researchers in her field.

With nearly 2,400 career citations, much of the self-described data nerd鈥檚 work explores self-regulation, which involves learners鈥� ability to monitor and regulate their thought, emotional and motivational processes.

To help enhance students鈥� learning experiences, researchers across disciplines reach out to Taub for her expertise on learning. At 麻豆原创, she鈥檚 helping engineering faculty enhance foundation course teaching for students. She鈥檚 also supporting the 麻豆原创 Coastal FCI鈥檚 Gulf Scholars Program, which aims to recruit students invested in addressing critical problems facing the Gulf of Mexico region.

鈥淢y goal is to help learners and that’s a goal that other people are sharing.鈥� 鈥� Michelle Taub, assistant professor

鈥淢y goal is to help learners and that’s a goal that other people are sharing,鈥� Taub says. 鈥淚t’s a really good feeling [when other faculty reach out for collaborative projects] because that demonstrates I鈥檓 not just doing the research for me to do the research, but it鈥檚 actually research that is helping students and teachers.鈥�

Her expertise is also being leveraged on studies with researchers at other institutions, as she鈥檚 a co-principal investigator on a North Carolina State University project aimed at enhancing math and special education, as well as interest in STEM careers, through a video game embedded within a fraction curriculum.

Careers in STEM are growing twice as fast as non-STEM careers, with 11.2 million projected position available by 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While there are many efforts happening nationally to increase students鈥� interest, access, and success in STEM, research around this topic is critical to making sure the most effective strategies are being implemented.

Professor and Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar Chair Sarah Bush鈥檚 research, which she鈥檚 been building on for nearly 15 years, aims to improve STE(A)M education, particularly mathematics. As a former middle school mathematics teacher, Bush knows firsthand the experiences and pressures students and educators face in classrooms.

With over 2,100 career citations, one of her most influential works relates to the benefit of informal learning experiences, such as summer programs, on students鈥� STEM learning and interest in STEM careers. These experiences have been shown to provide context and purpose to formal learning, provide opportunity and access to STEM education for students, and extend STEM content learning and engagement. This work has been part of Bush鈥檚 research as a member of the STEM Rocks Research Collective, which consists of STEM education professionals across more than a dozen institutions in the United States.

鈥淭he goal of my research, across numerous STE(A)M education projects and programs, has been to examine how meaningful integration of the STE(A)M disciplines empowers educators and students to be advocates and empathetic solution seekers as they pursue transformational ideas that continue advancing our world,鈥� she says.

College of Optics and Photonics Professor Shin-Tson Wu鈥檚 pioneering research in the evolution of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) has led to cutting-edge display technologies, making them more energy-efficient, vibrant and versatile. It also contributed to him becoming 麻豆原创鈥檚 inaugural Medal of Societal Impact awardee, which recognizes faculty whose research in science, engineering or medicine has significantly benefitted society.

He will be honored on Founders鈥� Day with the medal presented by President Alexander Cartwright and will receive a $50,000 grant. The recognition is part of the Founders鈥� Day Faculty Honors Celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. next Wednesday in the Student Union鈥檚 Pegasus Ballroom. The campus community is invited.

The displays that Wu鈥檚 work enabled have transformed how we interact with information, communicate with others and experience the world around us. These flat-panel screens are much thinner and lighter, with higher resolution and more vivid colors, and work in devices large and small. They also use significantly less electricity 鈥� three times less than traditional cathode-ray tube televisions of years past, meaning reduced impact on the environment and on consumers鈥� electric bills.

But that鈥檚 not what Wu says is one of his greatest career accomplishments.

It鈥檚 his students.

鈥淢y group is really blessed,鈥� he says of the 43 doctoral students he鈥檚 graduated since arriving at 麻豆原创 in 2001. 鈥淪o far, we have 15 working with Apple and 10 with Meta, several in academia, and some with Google and Applied Materials. And I sometimes talk to their supervisor or vice president, and they all appreciate our students very much. They are held in high regards.鈥�

Wu was selected for 麻豆原创鈥檚 newest major faculty honor by an external committee of members from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Medicine.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a group effort,鈥� Wu says when reflecting on his career accomplishments. 鈥淚’m just one of the contributors.鈥�

鈥淢any people have made tremendous contributions to society in different ways, in different fields of view, some known and some unknown,鈥� he continues. 鈥淢y contributions are in some ways quite limited, but I feel very honored to receive this recognition.鈥�

Despite his humbleness, Wu鈥檚 inventions have had far-reaching impacts.

His seminal contribution to the field was inventing the mixed-mode twisted nematic liquid crystal cell while working for Hughes Research Laboratories in California from 1983 to 2001.

This invention revolutionized high-brightness, high-resolution, high-contrast reflective and transflective (works in outdoor and low-light conditions) LCDs, setting new standards for display technology across various applications, from sunlight-readable, direct-view screens to projection and wearable displays, such as Google Glass, Microsoft HoloLens and Magic Leap 2.

“Dr. Wu’s pioneering work helped transform the way the world communicates and illustrates the ability of research and technology to improve lives and society.” 鈥� 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright

His groundbreaking work has transformed everyday life, as evidenced by the pervasive presence of high-quality displays in modern society, from smartphones and tablets to smartwatches and digital billboards.

Moreover, the invention of versatile LCDs has further revolutionized critical sectors such as medical monitoring, transportation safety, emergency response, health information access and public safety, allowing clear and reliable display solutions for workers in these essential fields.

“Dr. Wu’s pioneering work helped transform the way the world communicates and illustrates the ability of research and technology to improve lives and society,” says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. “His commitment to innovation, partnership and student success exemplifies the caliber of excellence of our 麻豆原创 faculty, and he is incredibly deserving of this distinctive recognition.鈥�

Prolific Inventor

Wu鈥檚 inventions at Hughes Research Laboratories focused on display science and technologies.

The researcher says his eureka moment that led to creating reflective mixed-mode twisted nematic liquid crystal cells came when he realized that if he made a liquid crystal layer thinner, the light passing through it would be reflected back more effectively. This would allow the creation of a reflective display that could be illuminated using ambient light or an ultra-bright light source, instead of a transmissive one dependent on a light behind the screen.

He tested this idea, found it successful, and patented it in 1995, publishing his findings the following year.

Out of Shin-Tson Wu鈥檚 96 U.S. patents, he says about two-thirds were obtained while at 麻豆原创.

His latest inventions include further advancements in display technology, particularly in the area of AR glasses. These inventions aim to make microdisplay light engines more compact, lighter weight and more efficient, with a focus on incorporating them into eyeglasses for AR applications.

Collaborating with colleagues and leading-industry sponsors, Wu’s team is working on innovations to improve optical efficiency, reduce power consumption and enhance the user experience for near-eye displays. They are also exploring the integration of display technology with artificial intelligence (AI) to train digital twins, which could have significant implications for fields such as transportation, smart cities and smart healthcare.

He says he鈥檒l use the grant from the Medal of Societal Impact to invest in his students and in lab equipment to further advance their research.

In addition to receiving the Medal of Societal Impact, Wu is also a 麻豆原创 Trustee Chair Professor. He received his bachelor鈥檚 in physics from National Taiwan University and his doctoral degree in physics from the University of Southern California. He is the recipient of multiple top awards in his field, including the Optica/IS&T Edwin H. Land medal, SPIE Maria Goeppert-Mayer award, OSA Esther Hoffman Beller Medal, SID Slottow-Owaki Prize, OSA Joseph Fraunhofer Award, SPIE G. G. Stokes Award, and SID Jan Rajchman Prize. He is also an academician of Academia Sinica, the national academy of Taiwan.

Wu credits the strong collaborative environment at 麻豆原创 as what brought and kept him here for more than two decades.

鈥淚 think collaboration is very important, because nowadays research is very multidisciplinary,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淲e can only know our own field, but we need to know others. So, the most efficient way is to collaborate. We have many outstanding scholars at 麻豆原创, so it’s very easy to make this happen.鈥�

You might wonder why Wu isn鈥檛 spending his days on top of a mountain, with a view of an ocean and of all that he has influenced. The answer is, he鈥檚 already been there. He chose to leave a distinguished career with Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California, 22 years ago. He left the prestige, the commanding mountain views, and the potential for wealth, and he reset his focus at 麻豆原创.

鈥淢y main priority is not myself,鈥� says Wu, who was honored with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Excellence in Research award earlier this year. 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to see others profit from my research. A rich life to me is not just about money. It鈥檚 helping others have better lives.鈥�

Wu says this from a modest office in . His windows since 2001 have looked over slivers of 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus: Gemini Drive and a parking garage, among them.

鈥淗ere, let鈥檚 go to the lab,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淪eeing is a much better way to understand.鈥�

鈥淎 rich life to me is not just about money. It鈥檚 helping others have better lives.鈥� 鈥� Shin-Tson Wu, Trustee Chair Professor

The trustee chair professor, this modern-day Edison, enthusiastically leads the way to a lab that appears dim. Various scopes and tools sit organized on two tables. Blue light could damage the tools, which is why the lab looks yellowish. Wu鈥檚 visitor starts to ask about the scopes.

鈥淭hose are not the interesting pieces,鈥� Wu says politely. 鈥淭his is.鈥�

He holds up the tiniest screen you鈥檝e ever seen, about the size of a pinky nail. Wu and his group of student researchers moved on years ago from the original LCD technology that changed the way we view screens.

鈥淢y patent for that is old news,鈥� he says, without a hint of ego. 鈥淚t is being used everywhere now. In here we鈥檙e looking to the future with the use of liquid-crystal-on-silicon [LCoS].鈥�

To help his visitor also see the future, Wu asks a doctoral student, Tim Yang 鈥�22MS, to position a set of AR goggles over the eyes. Vivid digital images appear over the actual field of vision 鈥� specifically, chameleons ride bicycles in front of Wu. This demonstration of augmented reality provides a glimpse of the next possible applications of liquid-crystal-on-silicon, with detailed images projected from a microdisplay. Wu explains what he envisions.

鈥淧eople in the military could use this to see a commanding officer giving instructions over real-life situations,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淏y making this very small, it could be integrated into something less bulky, like sunglasses. Eventually, consumers could use it to see information about points of interest when traveling, without looking at a phone. But those examples are just a start.鈥�

He explains how this iteration of liquid-crystal-on-silicon could be applied to healthcare through digital 鈥渢winning.鈥� For example, when a patient goes in for tests like bloodwork, an EKG, or an MRI, the results would be imported into the patient鈥檚 digital twin. The twin could then be a personal health coach for the patient, knowing precisely how to overcome an ailment and live a better daily life. It could also be a personal trainer for athletes, giving instructions on strides, arm motion, and workouts. The twin would always be on-call, available by simply putting the glasses on.

鈥淚t can also be useful for doctors,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淎 surgeon can practice a delicate procedure on a digital twin, a hundred times if necessary, before performing it for real. There would be fewer complications.鈥�

Wu points to a second headset on the table. Another optics and photonics doctoral student, Alex Yang (no relation to Tim), helps the visitor put it on, with a controller in each hand. The headset takes the visitor into immersive virtual reality, with a menu of videos to click. But there鈥檚 something more interesting here than the type of virtual reality experience familiar with gamers and drone users.

鈥淲e use quantum dots to make the view very vivid,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淥ur group of students started the research on this in 2014. They鈥檝e since taken what they learned here at 麻豆原创 and are using it in the industry.鈥�

鈥淭he best companies love our students,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淭hat makes me most proud. My students are now making beneficial impacts for people around the world.鈥�

The goggles used for this demonstration, in fact, were developed by 麻豆原创 graduates now working for Meta. Eight of Wu鈥檚 former students work there and 15 are at Apple. Some are managers and directors.

鈥淭he best companies love our students,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淭hat makes me most proud. My students are now making beneficial impacts for people around the world.鈥�

The doctoral students in the room reflect Wu鈥檚 positive energy. This summer, Tim Yang will start an internship with Apple and Alex Yang will start an internship with Meta.

鈥淥ur dream companies,鈥� says Tim, who is working toward his Ph.D. in optics and photonics after earning master鈥檚 degrees from 麻豆原创 and the University of Rochester. 鈥淚 came to 麻豆原创 because there is no other professor who can integrate Dr. Wu鈥檚 type of experience in academics and industry.鈥�

When asked if he鈥檚 an educator or inventor, Wu does not hesitate. 鈥淏oth,鈥� he says. But one question still looms with no obvious answer: Why did he leave a leading-edge lab on a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean to start an academic career across the country, at ground level?

鈥淚 came to 麻豆原创 because there is no other professor who can integrate Dr. Wu鈥檚 type of experience in academics and industry.鈥� 鈥� Tim Yang 鈥�22MS, 麻豆原创 alum and student

鈥淚 worked in a very scenic place when I was with Hughes,鈥� Wu says. 鈥淢y Ph.D. thesis advisor from USC (University of Southern California), Michael Bass and two others from his team (MJ Soileau and Eric Van Stryland) had come to 麻豆原创 to establish CREOL. They offered me a faculty position, but I liked where I was. During my daily Bible devotion one morning, I read a verse in Deuteronomy: 鈥榊ou have stayed long enough on this mountain.鈥� The verse touched me. My wife and I decided to make the move and glorify God. I鈥檓 glad we did. The greatest reward for me is not wealth. It鈥檚 sending students out to make the world better.鈥�

He puts down the tiny screen next to the goggles. Tim and Alex watch, eager to get back to their work.

鈥淣ow you know our story,鈥� Wu says to the visitor, 鈥渂ecause you have seen it with your own eyes.鈥�

Video screens are made up of hundreds of thousands of pixels that display different colors to form the images. With current technology, each of these pixels contain three subpixels 鈥� one red, one green, one blue.

But a scientific advancement in a lab at 麻豆原创鈥檚 NanoScience Technology Center may eventually make that model a thing of the past. Assistant Professor Debashis Chanda and physics doctoral student Daniel Franklin have come up with a way to tune the color of these subpixels. By applying differing voltages, they are able to change the color of individual subpixels to red, green or blue 鈥� the RGB scale 鈥� or gradations in between.

鈥淲e can make a red subpixel go to blue, for instance,鈥� Chanda said. 鈥淚n other displays that is not possible because they need three static color filters to show the full RGB color. We don鈥檛 need that now; a single subpixel-less pixel can be tuned across a given color gamut.鈥�

The research was .

Aside from the inherent value of an improved design for the pixel-based displays that are ubiquitous in today鈥檚 world, their findings have other advantages.

By eliminating the three static subpixels that currently make up every pixel, the size of individual pixels can be reduced by three. Three times as many pixels means three times the resolution. That would have major implications for not only TVs and other general displays, but augmented reality and virtual reality headsets that need very high resolution because they鈥檙e so close to the eye.

鈥淎 subpixel-less display can increase resolution drastically,鈥� Franklin said. 鈥淵ou can have a much smaller area that can do all three.鈥�

And because there would no longer be a need to turn off some subpixels to display a solid color 鈥� there would be no more subpixels, after all 鈥� the brightness of screens could be much greater.

Franklin and Chanda built on earlier research that demonstrated the world鈥檚 first proof-of-concept display utilizing the plasmonic phenomenon (Nature Communications, Vol. 6, pp. 7337, 2015).

They鈥檝e created an embossed nanostructure surface resembling an egg crate, covered with a skin of reflective aluminum. However, they needed several variations of this nanostructure to achieve the full range of colors.聽 In their latest advance, they found that modifying the roughness of the surface allowed a full range of colors to be achieved with a single nanostructure.

The nanostructure surface can be easily integrated with existing display technology, so the underlying hardware wouldn鈥檛 need to be replaced or re-engineered.

鈥淚t allows you to leverage all the pre-existing decades of LCD technology. We don鈥檛 have to change all of the engineering that went into making that,鈥� Franklin said.

The researchers are now taking steps to scale up their displays in preparation for bringing the technology to the private sector.

The research team also includes Professor Shin-Tson Wu of CREOL, The College of Optics & Photonics at 麻豆原创, and Russell Frank, an undergraduate researcher in Chanda鈥檚 lab.

LCD screens are everywhere 鈥� our smartphones, televisions, laptops and more. Increasingly, they鈥檙e now popping up in automobiles, where it鈥檚 now common to find liquid crystal displays showing speed, distance, fuel consumption and other information, as well as GPS mapping, rearview cameras and audio systems.

But current technology has an Achilles heel: The displays grow blurry and sluggish in extreme temperatures.

鈥淟iquid crystals exist only in a certain temperature range. In order to work in extreme environments, we need to widen that temperature range,鈥� said researcher Shin-Tson Wu of the 麻豆原创.

That鈥檚 what Wu and his team have done in his lab in 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Optics & Photonics.

As reported recently in the scholarly journal Optical Materials Express, Wu and his collaborators formulated several new liquid crystal mixtures that don鈥檛 have the temperature limitations of those now in use. The liquid crystals should maintain their speed and viscosity in temperatures as high as 212 degrees Fahrenheit and as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

In addition, the pixels are able to change their brightness level about 20 times faster than required by European automotive standards.

The breakthrough has applications in the automotive industry and with any other manufacturer of devices with LCD screens.

Wu, who holds 麻豆原创鈥檚 highest faculty honor as a Pegasus Professor, is no stranger to new discoveries with practical uses in the real world. He previously played a key role in developing LCDs for smartphones and other devices that are readable in sunlight.

Through his work with advanced LCDs, adaptive optics, laser-beam steering, biophotonics and new materials, Wu has registered about 84 patents. In 2014, he was one of the first inductees to the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.

Wu worked with a team of doctoral students from his research group 鈥� Fenglin Peng, Yuge 鈥淓sther鈥� Huang and Fangwang 鈥淕race鈥� Gou 鈥� as well as collaborators from Xi’an Modern Chemistry Research Institute in Xi鈥檃n, China, and DIC Corp. in Japan.

鈥淥ur team is always trying to find new recipes for materials,鈥� Huang said.

Wu is currently working on a smart brightness control film that has applications for automobiles, planes, eyewear, windows and more.

Issa Batarseh, who has made significant technical contributions in the field of power electronics, and Guifang Li, a professor of optics and photonics who specializes in optical fiber communications, are 麻豆原创鈥檚 eighth and ninth members of the select academy.

Election to NAI Fellow status is a high professional distinction given to academic inventors who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society.

The class of 168 Fellows named today brings the total number of NAI Fellows to 582, representing more than 190 research universities and governmental and non-profit research institutions. The 2015 Fellows account for more than 5,300 issued U.S. patents, bringing the collective patents held by all NAI Fellows to more than 20,000. These academic luminaries have made a significant impact to the economy through innovative discoveries, creating startup companies, and enhancing the culture of academic invention.

Batarseh joined 麻豆原创 in 1991 and has distinguished himself by establishing the Florida Power Electronics Center, conducting significant scholarly research which has resulted in more than 100 published papers in refereed journals, and more than 200 refereed papers at international conferences. He is a Fellow of both the IEEE and the AAAS and, in 2004, received the Davis Productivity Award for Best Invention recognized by the State of Florida. He has graduated 42 Ph.D. students and more than 70 masters and undergraduate students.

Over the years, Batarseh has helped secure more than $12 million for his work in developing innovative power electronic systems to convert energy collected in solar panels into domestic electricity grids and similar topics in power electronics. He is also a founding partner of a start-up, Petra Solar, which is commercializing solar-electronics-conversion systems, and he has received 27 patents.

Li is the recipient of both the NSF Career award and the ONR Young Investigator Award, and is a fellow of IEEE, SPIE and the Optical Society of America. He is a deputy editor for Optics Express and an associate editor for Photonics Technology Letters.

His research interests include optical communication and networking, RF photonics and all-optical signal processing. He has collaborated widely with academic institutions and industry.

Li’s research, totaling $4.7 million, has focused on high-capacity optical fiber communication systems. He has been awarded 26 patents.

The NAI Fellows will be inducted April 15 as part of the fifth annual conference of the National Academy of Inventors at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va. Fellows will be presented with a trophy, medal, and rosette pin in honor of their outstanding accomplishments.

Other 麻豆原创 members of the academy are Leonid Glebov, Shin-Tson Wu, Michael Bass, and Peter Delfyett, all from the College of Optics & Photonics; MJ Soileau, vice president for research and commercialization; Sudipta Seal, NanoScience Technology Center and the College of Engineering & Computer Science; Tson Wu and Marwan Simaan from the College of Engineering & Computer Science.

Wu is one of 麻豆原创鈥檚 most highly awarded researchers and was recognized in 2012 by the National Academy of Inventors as a charter fellow. He has been awarded 80 patents for technologies that continue to improve clarity on the devices the world has grown to depend on for communication聽and entertainment.

鈥淚 am honored to receive this recognition and I appreciate 麻豆原创, my students, and my family members for working with me to achieve these accomplishments,鈥� Wu said.

Wu is joined in the inaugural class by a team of innovation heavyweights including Thomas Edison, Gatorade inventor Robert Cade, and John Gorrie, the air conditioning pioneer whose statue represents Florida in the U.S. Capitol. Edison, who died in 1931, is the most prolific inventor in U.S. history with 1,093 patents. His inventions range from electric lighting and power systems, batteries, recorded sound, and film. His home and laboratory were in Fort Myers.

Also announced as part of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame were the inventor of the high-definition camera for NASA, William Glenn; and Shyam Mohapatra, whose nano-HIV detection kit provides a diagnosis in just 20 seconds. The hall will hold an induction ceremony Sept. 10.

鈥淲e are thrilled to be announcing this charter class of outstanding inventors whose work has had such an impact on the lives of Floridians and the world,鈥� said Paul R. Sanberg, chair of the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame advisory board and senior vice president for research and innovation at the University of South Florida, where the hall is located.

鈥淥ur hope is that the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame will encourage individuals of all ages and backgrounds to strive toward the betterment of Florida and society through continuous, groundbreaking innovation,鈥� said Sanberg.

The new Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, was recognized in April with a resolution passed by the Florida Senate to honor outstanding Florida inventors. The resolution, adopted at the request of state Sen. Jeff Brandes, recognized the hall 鈥渇or its commitment to honoring inventors and celebrating innovation, discovery, and excellence.鈥�

Inventors, who must have at least one U.S. patent, were identified through an open nomination process and elected by a selection committee comprised of leaders in research and innovation throughout Florida.

鈥淔lorida has become a national leader in research and innovation, and each of these inventors is an outstanding example of the creative thinking that has distinguished Florida both in the past and today,鈥� said Randy Berridge, president of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council and Hall of Fame advisory board member.

鈥淓very new generation of scientists and inventors generates discoveries, economic growth and opportunity, not only for Floridians but for our nation and the world,鈥� said Berridge.

For more information on the 2014 inductees, the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame and the 2014 Induction Ceremony and Gala on Sep. 10, visit or contact info@FloridaInvents.org.

Shin-Tson Wu, Pegasus professor of optics, has been selected to receive the Esther Hoffman Beller Medal from The Optical Society (OSA) for his broad and significant impact to academia and industry in photonics education.

Wu and his Liquid Crystal Displays lab team conduct the research that is leading to increasingly lifelike flat-screen displays.

He has received nearly 80 U.S. patents for his work, both at 麻豆原创 and at a research lab in California, and has been instrumental in the development of displays that are brighter, more energy efficient and both bigger and smaller than ever.

In 2010 Wu received the OSA鈥檚 Joseph Fraunhofer Award and Robert M. Burley Prize, in 2011 he received the Slottow-Owake Prize from the Society of Information Display (SID), and in 2008 he received G.G. Stokes award from the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) and the Jan Rajchman prize from the SID.

鈥淒r. Wu is an extraordinary example of the influence one exceptional faculty members can have on an industry,鈥� said Bahaa Saleh, dean of 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Optics & Photonics.

Saleh, who is also a recipient of the Esther Hoffman Beller Medal, said the international recognition such awards generate help the college continue to attract highly regarded faculty and talented students, which in turn generates funding and innovative technology.聽 MJ Soileau, the founding director of the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers and current vice president for Research & Commercialization, has also received the honor.

Wu will receive the award at the OSA鈥檚 annual meeting in Tucson, AZ in October.

They were selected because they聽 鈥渉ave demonstrated a highly prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society,鈥� according to the national organization.

Included in the NAI charter class of 98 are eight Nobel laureates, two Fellows of the Royal Society, 12 presidents of research universities and non-profit research institutes, 50 members of the National Academies (National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine), 11 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, three recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, four recipients of the National Medal of Science, and 29 AAAS Fellows, among other major awards and distinctions.

Together, the new Fellows hold more than 3,200 U.S. patents.

鈥溌槎乖� is honored to have members of its faculty honored as NAI Charter Fellows,鈥� said Soileau, 麻豆原创鈥檚 vice president for research and commercialization. 鈥淒r. Glebov is an inventor of a new type of glass that is revolutionizing how components for lasers are made and is the foundation of one of 麻豆原创鈥橲 most successful spinoff companies, OptiGrate.聽Dr. Wu is a true pioneer in the field of liquid crystal display technology, something that impacts our lives when we look at our watches, watch TV, or turn on our iPhones.鈥�

Soileau also has played a role in developing technology that protects devices from laser damage. Soileau served as founding director of CREOL, 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Optics and Photonics that is known throughout the world for its excellence. He laid much of the groundwork for the optics program at 麻豆原创. That program includes the nation鈥檚 first full-fledged college devoted to optics and two additional research centers 鈥� the Florida Photonics Center of Excellence and the Townes Laser Institute.

As vice president for research and commercialization, Soileau oversees 麻豆原创鈥檚 Technology Transfer Office, the university鈥檚 business-incubation efforts, and participation in company partnerships through the Florida High Tech Corridor. Associate vice president Tom O鈥橬eal leads those three particular efforts.

鈥淢y role is that of the privilege of heading the division of 麻豆原创 where great things happen,鈥� Soileau said.

Wu said 麻豆原创鈥檚 environment makes all the difference for his success.

鈥淭his is truly an unmerited blessing to me,鈥� Wu said. 鈥淎nd I want to thank 麻豆原创 for giving me a stage to be able to perform this work.鈥�